More local grads pursuing STEM careers

More Bartholomew County high school graduates are pursuing degrees in health as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

Those trends are included in Indiana's College Readiness Reports, released this week by the Commission for Higher Education. The data is compiled annually to help schools and communities understand how their students are performing in college.

Local schools have been feeding the STEM pipeline — an attempt to get more students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers earlier — and it seems to be working.

Of all high school graduates in the Class of 2012 who enrolled in college, 22 percent of Columbus students and 28 percent of Hauser High School students were enrolled in a STEM program. Those numbers were up from 18 percent and 23 percent, respectively, from the prior year. The local percentages exceed interest statewide in STEM programs, which has been at 18 percent for two straight years.